hi_controller.rb

# examples of using before_render
# http://github.com/xtoddx/before_render

class HiController < ApplicationController
  before_render :hook_it_up
  before_render :double_hooked, :if => lambda{|x| false}
  before_render :cool_action, :only => [:index]
  before_render :lousy_action, :except => [:index]

#  just the page
#  def index; end

  def index2
    op = render_to_string(:action => 'index')
    render :text => op
  end

  def index3
    render :update do |page|
      page.assign :cool, @cool_action
      page.assign :lousy, @lousy_action
      page.assign :hooked, @hooked
      page.assign :double_hooked, @double_hooked
    end
  end
  private
  def hook_it_up
    @hooked = true
  end

  def double_hooked
    @doulbe_hooked = true
  end

  def cool_action
    @cool_action = true
  end

  def lousy_action
    @lousy_action = true
  end
end

__END__

<%# VIEW FILE %>
Cool action - <%= h(@cool_action.inspect) %><br/>
Lousy action - <%= h(@lousy_action.inspect) %><br/>
Hooked: <%= h(@hooked.inspect) %><br/>
Double? <%= h(@double_hooked.inspect) %>